Further Reading

After months and months and months and months and months of credible rumors, Nintendo this morning confirmed that the Switch Lite is real in a short video announcement. The cheaper system, which is "dedicated to handheld play" and is not compatible with docking to a TV set, will be available for $200 starting September 20, 2019 in three different colors.

The more compact system shrinks the original Switch's 6.2-inch screen to 5.5 inches diagonally. The screen keeps the same 1280 × 720 resolution, though, resulting in a small increase in PPI and overall sharpness. The Lite system also reduces the original's weight (from about 0.88 pounds to about 0.61 pounds, including Joy-Cons), height (4.0" to 3.6"), and width (9.4" to 8.2").

Nintendo says there should be no performance difference between the two versions of the console when it comes to portable mode. And the smaller system still supports games on physical cards, eShop downloads to SD card storage, standard wired headphones, and a Wi-Fi connection to the Nintendo Switch Online service.

Nintendo promises the Switch Lite will get 20 to 30 percent more battery life than the original system. That means the official "approximately 2.5- to 6.5-hour" battery range for the first Switch should approach three to seven hours on the Switch Lite, with actual performance heavily dependent on the processing and display requirements of the game being played. And despite the lack of TV docking support, the Switch Lite still sports a USB-C port on the underside for charging.

As rumored, the Switch Lite won't sport the Switch's signature detachable Joy-Cons and will instead feature the same basic controls integrated into the body of the system. The four distinct buttons on the left side of the console have been replaced with a more traditional d-pad, in the style Nintendo itself popularized with the NES in the '80s.

This means Joy-Con features like HD rumble and the IR camera won't be supported directly on the Switch Lite. Games that require these features—such as 1-2-Switch, Super Mario Party, and Nintendo Labo—can still be used with the system if players buy separate Joy-Cons (which will need to be charged with a separate, original system or an accessory like the Charging Grip).

But the Switch Lite does not include the (flimsy) built-in kickstand of the original unit, making it awkward to play games in "tabletop mode" without an additional accessory to prop it up. Otherwise, the Switch Lite is compatible with all Switch games that run in Handheld Mode, which includes the vast majority of the system's existing library.

Further Reading

Last year, Nintendo of America's future President Doug Bowser told Ars Technica that overall play time on the Switch was "about even" between portable and docked modes. And in an October 2017 investor presentation, the company suggested roughly 30 percent of the Switch audience plays "primarily" in handheld/tabletop mode, compared to just under 20 percent that play primarily docked.

Further Reading

Switch owners who buy a Switch Lite as a secondary system will be able to easily share digital purchases across both units, thanks to a September system update that allows "non-primary consoles" to log in to the same Nintendo eShop account. The secondary system "must have an active Internet connection" to play downloaded games, however.

The introductory video for Switch Lite includes a brief, glossy advertisement showing beautiful young people pulling the system out to play at a skate park, a rock climbing gym, a waterfront party, a camping trip, and even floating in a space station. That's somewhat reminiscent of the three-minute trailer that first introduced the world to the Switch in 2016.

In addition to the three colored versions launching alongside Link's Awakening HD on Sept. 20, Nintendo is also planning a "Zacian and Zamazenta" version, styled after Pokemon Sword and Shield, which will launch alongside those games on November 8.

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Kyle Orland
Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in the Washington, DC area. Emailkyle.orland@arstechnica.com//Twitter@KyleOrl

Why would they remove dock support? That seems like a waste of effort. Especially if it supports wireless Joy-Cons.

Also doesn't look that much smaller, maybe a little shorter in height (less space between screenshot/home buttons and the bottom), but looks to be the same width. Guess we'll have to wait for actual measurements.

It's innovative in that you're technically getting console quality graphics on a handheld. That is the appeal. Granted it's not PC or even Xbox level but if I could be on a flight or on the train to work and play some Wolfenstein 2 or Doom with a slight downgrade I'd do it.

It looks like it's the same size as the original Switch. I don't see the point.

Edit: Since I'm getting down voted, I'll expand. If the point was to make a cheaper system, they should've just made a SKU that doesn't have the dock included instead of a Switch with the joy cons glued on. My only complaint about the original Switch was that it was large for a portable system. This model should have been a smaller, more portable version.

You're getting down-voted because this model IS a smaller, more portable version of the Switch. It's literally not the same size as the original Switch

It looks like it's the same size as the original Switch. I don't see the point.

Edit: Since I'm getting down voted, I'll expand. If the point was to make a cheaper system, they should've just made a SKU that doesn't have the dock included instead of a Switch with the joy cons glued on. My only complaint about the original Switch was that it was large for a portable system. This model should have been a smaller, more portable version.

You are being down voted as you clearly have not read the article properly...

I think the Switch Lite will be a love-it-or-hate-it product. If you're a person that plays exclusively handheld, it'll be a good option. For everyone else, it'll be a non-starter.

I am surprised they removed the ability to dock to a TV though (even if they didn't include a dock in the box).

I am a little surprised by that too. However this is an ideal console for those buying for young children who are only ever going to play it in handheld mode. It is not for me though as I play evenly between docked and handheld.

I've replaced all the analog sticks on my two sets of Joycons already due to the terrible drift. Not sure I would trust the Switch Lite's built-in joycon with, what I presume are, even more difficult to replace analog sticks unless Nintendo's actually done something to fix this.

And the whole draw of the machine is the 'switch' mechanic and it no longer "switches"? Why did they even bother removing the TV-out function? I don't see how that is a 'child friendly' move? I always ask my son to try to play on TV mode so he doesn't have his back hunched over the tiny screen. Why not have them play on the big screen?

I imagine one of the primary markets for this is the multi-switch household, where each kid is used to having their own DS, and the other option is to buy two or three or four Switches, which is rather expensive, and mostly pointless - you're not going to dock those anyway. For that use case this is perfect, and probably is as high a margin as the original.

It's innovative in that you're technically getting console quality graphics on a handheld. That is the appeal. Granted it's not PC or even Xbox level but if I could be on a flight or on the train to work and play some Wolfenstein 2 or Doom with a slight downgrade I'd do it.

Given that every word you typed applies to the original Switch, I'd say that's not the appeal.

I think the Switch Lite will be a love-it-or-hate-it product. If you're a person that plays exclusively handheld, it'll be a good option. For everyone else, it'll be a non-starter.

I am surprised they removed the ability to dock to a TV though (even if they didn't include a dock in the box).

I am a little surprised by that too. However this is an ideal console for those buying for young children who are only ever going to play it in handheld mode. It is not for me though as I play evenly between docked and handheld.

The reason to remove the ability to dock is to allow them to include less powerful CPU/GPUs in the device, presumably, or at least to not worry about cooling them as much. Only having to drive a 1280x720 screen means they don't need nearly as much power. That makes the device cheaper to make.

Right now the biggest question to adoption imho is going to be this potential "Compatibility" issue. None of the articles I've read have been clear on whether ALL games will be compatible or not - whether or not that means extra accessories or whatnot. Biggest burning question in my mind.

Does your game play in handheld mode (undocked with Joy-Cons attached)? Congratulations, it's compatible.

I've replaced all the analog sticks on my two sets of Joycons already due to the terrible drift. Not sure I would trust the Switch Lite's built-in joycon with, what I presume are, even more difficult to replace analog sticks unless Nintendo's actually done something to fix this.

And the whole draw of the machine is the 'switch' mechanic and it no longer "switches"? Why did they even bother removing the TV-out function? I don't see how that is a 'child friendly' move? I always ask my son to try to play on TV mode so he doesn't have his back hunched over the tiny screen. Why not have them play on the big screen?

I have got 2 sets of joycons and have not had any issues with either No one I know has had that issue either. I am not sure it is a major issue. The TV out function requires a more powerful GPU so that is likely why the feature was removed. You can still have them play on a TV by purchasing the standard Switch...

If this thing could do everything that the more expensive version could do, then what's the point of the other one existing?

Also, since games run only 720p while not docked, that means that this SKU probably has a smaller GPU than the other SKU. Hence a cheaper GPU.

It is the exact same GPU though they were probably able to omit the fan since the existing Switch doesn't use it in handheld mode.

I haven't seen that yet, but I'll take your word on it. I will say that even if it's technically the same chip, it's very possible they can have a lower quality bar for these - knowing the chips will run slower and cooler - than for the Switch chips.

Right now the biggest question to adoption imho is going to be this potential "Compatibility" issue. None of the articles I've read have been clear on whether ALL games will be compatible or not - whether or not that means extra accessories or whatnot. Biggest burning question in my mind.

Does your game play in handheld mode (undocked with Joy-Cons attached)? Congratulations, it's compatible.

No not all games are compatible out of the box. But it is a tiny number and they are compatible if you buy a set of joycons.

I don't see who the market for this would be outside of someone that wants Nintendo on the "cheap". I just sat beside someone on an airplane 2 weeks ago that had a Switch. It wasn't that much bigger than my tablet (an old 2013 Nexus 7) which makes it quite easily portable as it already is. So... who's this for?

Kids, for one. Especially in families that already have the regular Switch but want the kids to have their own.

And just people who are mainly just looking for a portable game system and don't need the features of the regular one. This thing is basically replacing the 3DS.

I don't see who the market for this would be outside of someone that wants Nintendo on the "cheap". I just sat beside someone on an airplane 2 weeks ago that had a Switch. It wasn't that much bigger than my tablet (an old 2013 Nexus 7) which makes it quite easily portable as it already is. So... who's this for?

I'd venture that the market for someone who wants Nintendo on the "cheap" is huge, especially parents. Really this is for kids and people who are never gonna play their Switch hooked to a TV

I don't see who the market for this would be outside of someone that wants Nintendo on the "cheap". I just sat beside someone on an airplane 2 weeks ago that had a Switch. It wasn't that much bigger than my tablet (an old 2013 Nexus 7) which makes it quite easily portable as it already is. So... who's this for?

I'd venture that the market for someone who wants Nintendo on the "cheap" is huge, especially parents. Really this is for kids and people who are never gonna play their Switch hooked to a TV

And people who will buy a system exclusively for Pokemon and/or Animal Crossing.

This means Joy-Con features like HD rumble and the IR camera won't be supported directly on the Switch Mini. Games that require these features—such as 1-2-Switch, Super Mario Party, and Nintendo Labo—can still be used with the system if players buy separate Joy-Cons.

How do you use the Joy-Con controllers, if the Switch has no kickstand or dock? I have not seen an accessory for this either. With the screen being a bit smaller, it seems weird to make this suggestion. Not having HD rumble or motion sensors is unfortunate.